The mysterious phone call on check out day

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

On our last trip last week we did get another phone call, this one at 9:45, with no one saying anything when I answered. This really bothered me this time, it has happened everytime for the last 2 years of our trips. I said "Hello" several times and then asked them why they were not saying anything because I knew that it was housekeeping. Shortly after that I heard the phone hang up. I called the front desk and told them that I did not apperciate housekeeping doing this and that I wanted it stopped. I do plan on telling them on our next trip that we will not be leaving until 11:00 am on check out day and that I do not want to get the housekeeping phone call.
I also adked the housekeeper about this when we were leaving and she did not answer, I could not tell if she was just ignoring us or if she could not speak English.

[Candace]

I have gotten these calls also, and I never check out before 11. I like your idea of telling the front desk at check in that you do not want that call on your last morning. It is really irritating to have this happen when you have been up late your last night!

[Figaro30]

After hearing about these calls...it is my intention upon arrival to tell the front desk that I do not want to get this call on check-out day! I plan on telling them that if in fact I do get this call, housekeeping will NOT be getting a tip from me for this entire stay. So they should relay this message to housekeeping.

Hopefully that will be enough that it won't happen. I guess we'll see soon enough. :rolleyes:

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

Figaro30, I like your idea to tell them that if you do get the mysterious call that they will not get a tip. Please let me know how it goes for you. We will be returning in Jan. and I would like to do the same thing. I am to get a call from DVC about this problem. They sent me a e-mail today to let me know that someone will give me a call. I guess my complaint to them struck a nerve?
I will let you know if they do call me.

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I have stayed a number of times and have only had ONE from housekeeping call in all that time and one knock on the door.
I wonder if it is not another guest being funny.
Rather than call the front desk with your ultimatium, why not just call housekeeping and tell them?
I also put the do not disturb sign on my door the night before check out and also, do not use express checkout, that is the one time I got the call. Perhaps a coincidence, but, since I stopped using it ( I like to puruse the bill first) no calls.

[Paul in CT]

We have been about seven times since we joined in 1995 and have not yet received "the phone call" at the WDW DVC's even though we used express checkout each time. We did get a knock on the door on our last day at VB in August, but it was near 11:00 AM and the housekeeper was there to ask us when we were leaving.

A CM at the VB desk did tell us on our check-in day that they had many that stayed passed the 11:00 AM checkout despite the threat of being charged for another day. This was the explanation for why we were not able to get into our room until 4:15. I was a bit upset initially, but when I found that we got a view that I requested I felt much better. :D

[Cinderelli]

I know this thread is referring to calls at BW, however, the past two times we have been at OKW we haven't received a telephone call - we've received an actual knock on the door by housekeeping. This last time it was at 8:45 AM. We have young children and are always up by this time anyway. However, I did find it odd that they would knock this early.

We told them we wouldn't be checking out for a couple of hours. They knocked again at 10:30. I guess they just want to get ahead of the game but it was kinda annoying. I think I'd rather get the phone call.

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

We were staying at OKW when this happened last week. I have had this happen many times and did nothing about it at that time because I thought that it was just a guest that had the wrong number. after reading about this on this board I realized that it only happens on our check out day.

[JaneDE]

We also got the knock on the door at OKW on check out day on our last trip in August. They started at around 8 AM. I explained to housekeeping that we would not be leaving until 11 AM but this did not stop them from knocking at least two more times on our door before we finally left. They were pests and I was very annoyed by the time we left at 11 AM.

[Firefighter Mickey]

Last time we checked out at OKW, housekeeping was great. I opened the door to take out the last trash, and the housekeeping people were sitting outside enjoying the view - no knocks, no nothing. I told them that we would be out in about 1/2 hour, and they were fine with that. Of course there was a lot of activity in and out of the room, since it was a GV and 3 families were getting ready to leave, so they obviously didn't have to knock to see what was going on.

I recall that Doc did some research into this sometime back, and the housekeeping supervisor said it is absolutely not their policy to make hang-up phone calls. Of course it may be hard for a supervisor to know everything their staff is doing, when you have a large staff like this.

I think DVC should re-instate the system that they had where they ask you to call a phone number when you are leaving the room for final check-out, and then they should really advertise it and tell people about it at check-in time so that it's used.

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Jane,
Next time use the do not disturb sign on the outside of the door, they don't knock when that is up.

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Dennis,
Hmmmmmm, wonder why it is only you? I still thinking it is another guest. Wish they had *69 there, then we could find out.

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

Gail, as it turns out I am not the only one that has had this happen. I started to notice this when I had read about it on this board, and as Firefighter Mickey noted that Doc had looked into this in the past. I thought in the past that it was someone that just dialed the wrong number and just hung up. But this happened on check out day ONLY this past Sept, Oct. 2000, and Jan. 2001. I think it is housekeeping checking to see if someone is still in the room. If it is housekeeping why don't they just say that they are calling to see when we are checking out, why do they just say nothing and hang up. With everything that has happened in the past few weeks my wife was a little on edge and thought that someone was trying to see if we were in the room and that they were going to rob us. But that is sometimes the reaction that is evocted with this type of phone call.
I had put the "Privacy" card on the door early that morning, so we did not get the usual knock on the door at 9 am. But the next time I will state at check-in that I will not be checking out until 11 am and to request that housekeeping not call that morning. Onec or twice it may be another guest making a call, be it a wring number or a prank, but this many times it is housekeeping. Even though their supervisors deny it is happening, I think it is common practice by the working staff.
We go to OKW 4 and sometimes 5 times a year and we check out at 11 am each time, so these calls are now noticable. All I'm asking is that they stop this practice and either identify themselves or not call at all!

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Dennis,
This is definitely odd. Hope there is a solution for this.

[Figaro30]

I've read a tremendous amount of posts on here about this happening to a lot of people just on check-out day at the DVC. I highly doubt it is just stranger doing this as a prank. It is most likely housekeeping. Why else would it only happen on check-out day. How would a complete stranger know what day you are checking out? Only housekeeping would know that. Somebody in-house is definitely doing this. Not strangers on vacation.

[Figaro30]

PS....I've heard reports of them still knocking while the Do Not Disturb sign is out too! So I know that won't help. Hence the idea of threatening NO TIP!!! And anybody that knows me knows that this is not an empty threat. I WILL NOT TIP if this happens to me.

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Figaro,
I am sure the threat of no tip will work. But, I would call housekeeping with this one, not the front desk, they could care less. Maybe it would work with the GM.

[DizMare]

When I wrote a letter of complaint about this very thing in August, I received a phone call from the Housekeeping Manager. She denied it was policy, and said she would speak to her housekeepers, and even other housekeeping managers. Sadly, it appears that the practice continues unabated.

The manager recommended that I call the hotel operator the night before and have my phone blocked to incoming calls. I don't like to do that (as I might want to receive other important calls). She then asked that I inform housekeeping the night before and they would put a tracer on the line to see where the phone calls were coming from.

Well, that sounds like a great bother to the guest and to what end? I'd still get the phone call, and I doubt that the phone calls would stop even if they caught someone "red handed." (I suspect the calls are being made from housephones - tracing them there will prove nothing.)

My plan is to take my phone off the hook until we awaken and to place a note on my door announcing my intended check out time and requesting no phone calls or knocks.


And Dennis, if you get a call from a Housekeeping manager who insists you are the first guest to make such a complaint, give her a raspberry for me.
:) :tongue:

[GAIL HAYDEN]

DizMare,
Help me here, you don't want the calls blocked because you dont want to miss a call that might be important. The blocking is for the ringing part, not the calls, they can leave a message. Well, if you take the phone off the hook don't you miss calls that might be important?
Yes, it is indeed a lot of trouble for guests/members to go through, but, if it stops this harrassment, is it not worth it for the other members and yourself for future visits? If I were in the same boat, I would do it for the other members and for myself.
Remember they cannot fix what they don't know is broken.

[sgtdisney]

We were there in early September and didn't leave the room until almost 11AM. We never got a phone call. I wonder if it depends on the specific housekeeper assigned to a unit?

[Mommy of Two]

We got the call at 9:45 yesterday morning at the Wilderness Lodge yesterday as well. Picked it up and there was no one there. Hmmm, pretty suspicious huh?

[Chuck S]

I don't think I've ever gotten one of these calls. Are you checking out on a high volume day? I mean, if ALL the housekeepers had to wait until 11am to get into the rooms, I dount they'd be ready by the semi-guaranteed 4pm check-in time. I really wouldn't mind a call, however, rather than just hanging up, they could ask about when we had planned to vacate so they can work out a cleaning schedule. Or maybe you'd like our dues to increase, so we could hire MORE housekeepers to get all the rooms cleaned between 11am and 4pm, or they could make all check-out times 9am.

I don't mean to offend anyone, but complaining about a 9:30 am call on a day you have to be out of your room by 11am seems awfully petty.

[Granny]

Looks like this is a topic that resurfaces every couple of months.

My only problem with not tipping the housekeeping is that I think anything that is done this systematically must be done at MANAGEMENT direction. So we would be punishing the person who may just be "following orders".

I figure that most housekeeping is a pretty low wage job. If they do a crummy job, then I have no problem leaving no tip, and in fact reporting them to management. But in the "case of the mysterious knock", I'm just not sure they are doing this on their own. :confused:

[Figaro30]

From what I understand these phone calls could start as early as BEFORE 8:00 am!!!

Now I don't know about you....but we DRIVE to Florida from NEW YORK. So that last day....if I'm not ready to get up and I keep getting disturbed by unknown knocks and hangups I'm going to be a little more than miffed. Especially since we have to start our 19 hour ride back home on that day! The point is that I shouldn't be disturbed until I'm ready to check out at 11:00AM!!!!

I'm sorry if I sound petty... but I definitely do have a problem with this on our last day there. If it happened any other day...I probably wouldn't care so much....but on my last day...I need as much undisturbed sleep as I can get before we start our long haul home.

PS...for Granny....That's why I plan on telling the front desk....that way they can relay it to the guilty party!!! And hopefully it won't come to me not tipping. But I sure do plan on making myself VERY clear at check-in with that threat.

[Chuck S]

If you don't want to be disturded before 11am, maybe we should change our guaranteed check-in time to 5 or 6 pm. Then, after driving a long drive down, we wouldn't be able to relax when we got there, you wouldn't be happy. If we changed check-out to an earlier time...say 10 am...you wouldn't be happy. If we raise our dues to cover the costs of additional housekeepers, you wouldn't be happy. Housekeeping is between a rock and a hard place, and work for low wages...give them a break!

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Figaro,
Again, don't bother telling the Front Desk, they don't have anything to do with housekeeping and your "threat" may get lost.
Call Housekeeping directly.
BTW, all calls before 8am are silent calls only(the only way you will know about it is the message light shows up), except for specifically requested wake up calls.
BTW, I would not make it a threat either. I would ask nicely that I not be disturbed by a phone call or a knock. Issuing threats only puts people on the defensive and is a negative thing to do.
It may work in NY, but NOT the rest of the country. Personally, I would laugh at a threat like that and have the attitude of " and your point is?". Sorry, but, that is the way of the world these days.

[Mommy of Two]

Chuck:

I wasn't complaining just indicating I'd noticed what others had mentioned on previous posts.

I was awake at the time anyway and so were my kids - it wasn't a huge deal to me.

I really don't appreciate being called petty however.

[Chuck S]

Mommy of two, did I specifically call anyone petty? No, and if you took it that way I apologize. I was referring to the idea of "I'm on vacation, do NOT disturb ME...ME...ME. " as being petty. You must admit, that overall, a call to see if you're still in the room just isn't something to get so worked up about.

Also, I was still typing my post when your post hit the boards, so I could NOT have been responding to you specifically.

[Figaro30]

Chuck.....If it is virtually impossible for the resorts to not make up all rooms by 4:00 then they need to make check out time at 10:00. I would be perfectly HAPPY with that. Much rather than having them call me at 8:01am and hang up on me. AND I don't consider being on vacation don't disturb ME ME ME as being petty. I've never had this happen to me in my life. Being disturbed and hung up on is just plain rude.....and just because it's Disney World I'm not about to let that slide.


Gail......what do you think I'm going to pull a knife on these people? When did I ever say that I was not going to be nice. I said I was going to make my point very clear.

Well I will be sure to call housekeeping and ALSO notify the front desk. That way no threat will be lost through lack of communication.

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I hardly thought you would pull a knife, but your "tone" was definitely hostile. What I got from it was "here I come and if you do.........you won't get a tip and I am going to tell everyone that".
Personally, I don't look for trouble or things negative to happen, it almost insures that they will.

[Figaro30]

Honestly, I REALLY RESENT that comment about threats working in NY. New York is a beautiful place with WONDERFUL, WARM, CARING people. Maybe you should take a trip here ALL THE WAY FROM CONNECTICUT and see for yourself and lose some of your ignorance!

I'm SOOO done with this thread!

[Chuck S]

I've never had this happen to me in my life. Being disturbed and hung up on is just plain rude.....

I've had maids call at a lot of motels and hotels while traveling, occassionally the front desks have called instead, especially if it is close to check-out time. As far as hang ups being rude...I agree, they could identify themselves and politely ask when we'd planned to leave so they'd know when they could begin cleaning the condo.

[Figaro30]

I'm not kidding....I have to say that I've never had this happen to me in my entire life. Well, maybe I'm just one of the lucky ones and maybe I'll continue to be lucky. I guess we'll see next month. I'm sure I'll let you all know what I encounter.

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I have come all the way from CT and I do NOT LIKE NYC or the little boroughs, people are rude, rude, rude. The attitude is horay for me and the he** with you. I have been there, I have done that and I do speak from experience. So, resent what I believe to be a fact from my experience all you want.
I do, however, love the rest of NY, especially upstate, it is lovely.
And....only an NYer would call someone ignorant without knowing them. The jokes about Nyers are not entirely unfounded, you know. And, there are lots of them.

[Muushka]

Boy, this thread has gone from bad to worse....

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

Chuck S and Gail, I think the point I was trying to make was lost. The calls that are received on the check out day ONLY is made without any responce from the caller. It is rude and when I am on vacation I do not want to be disturbed until I am ready to check out at 11 am. I put the "PRIVACY" card out early so they will not knock on the door and the calls made without anyone saying anything is disturbing to my family. If housekeeping wants to get in earlier then a phone system should be set up like at VB, where there was a number to call when you were leaving your room at check-out.
The housekeepers wages do not enter into this, it is the fact that this practice is being done and it should be stopped!
I will not threaten anyone over this but I will make it a point at check in to mention this call and ask that it not be done. Maybe then they will get the point. The member contract that I signed is very specific about check out times and warn about penalities if you stay after 11 am. I pay dues for the housekeeping service and I think this behavior is not wanted.
Our only recourse is to complain about it, which I have done to the proper place, member services. I have talked to the housekeeping supervisor following one of these calls and he denied that a call was made. I can see that trying to talk to housekeeping does very little good so now I will take it up with MS.
If they have a problem with schedules then they shoud address this issue, not make these calls and say nothing on the phone, then hang up. I don't think this is petty, just common courtesy to at least say who they are on the phone. The fact that no one said anything on the phone did cause some concern to my wife. At other hotels I have had calls about check out and these people identify themselves.
I wonder if they do the same thing with the guest staying at the other resort properties at WDW. I would say that they don't because they would get complaints.
Our check out time is NO LATER than 11 am, and because of the flight schedule we prefer to stay in our room until just before 11 am so that we do not arrive so early to the airport that we sit there for several extra hours. The room is much more comfortable.

[Figaro30]

Gail...you obviously have not been watching any intelligent television because if you had you would see what New York City is all about. We may be rude at times but no other city could get people from all over the world to volunteer their time and efforts to dig through rubble picking up body parts 24 hours a day. I would hate to live in the same town as you because I know that if two towers were to fall on top of me you would be the last person to help me.

To disagree with my beliefs is one issue, but to put down a city that has been shattered over the past few weeks puts you in a very sad category of people. At a time like this when people all over the world are wearing I LOVE NEW YORK signs...you are blatently insulting your neighbor. I feel sorry for you.

May god bless your soul.

[GAIL HAYDEN]

intellegent television is an oxymoron.
I would bet in any crisis people would get together and assist, in fact many of my neighbors and friends (all emts) have been to NY.
I am very sorry for the tragedy that occured in NY, however, it was not only an attack on NY it was an attack on the entire country and its beliefs. NYC was not the only place affected by this, we all were.
How you can judge me or what my actions would be in any situation just proves my point further.
I don't have to like NYC and I do not, but, that does not prevent me from having sympathy, (which I do), for the victums and famlies scarred by this. Face it, we are all scarred by this, we are all victums of a sort.
BTW, I LOVE NY has been around for ages, it is not new, and, believe it or not, it is for the entire state.
G-d has blessed my soul more than you could ever imagne. And, someday I will list the ways I have helped my fellow human, and there are many ways.

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Dennis,
The point YOU were making was not lost, trust me. You made very valid points and I do agree with the fact that it is VERY rude and complaints shoud be made (which you have done). Hopefully, something will come of them. I can totally understand the uneasiness which would come about from calls like this.
I am sorry if your point was muddied (partially by me) and the topic got lost in senseless chatter.
Let us know what comes of your issuing complaints.

[DebbieB]

I emailed member services last December after the calls happened on both of my DVC trips last year, once at OKW (called around 9:00) and BWV (called at 8:00 and 8:30). They apologized and said they would forward my e-mail to the appropriate manager. It didn't happen at OKW this past May, but I had my laptop online part of the morning.

[nylover]

Gail,

This is my first day on here, and already I am disgusted. I am not even sure I will be coming back. It is hard to believe that people think like this at a time when we all are hurting so much.

First of all I don't believe that "intelligent television" is an oxymoron. If you turn on CNN or MSNBC you would know that television can be and is intelligent. Remind me the next time I speak to Peter Jennings and Tom Brokaw to let them know that Gail in CT thinks you are dumb.

As much as everyone in this country says that the attack was on America, no one feels it more than NYers. It is nice to know that people around the country have sympathy but we live here, it is our jobs that are on the line, not the people in CT.

You are the first and only person that I have heard bad mouth NY since this tragedy. It is one thing to think negatively, but another to express this to people who may be trying to get their minds off this awful thing.


Just for your information, I don't think that FIGARO30 was stating that I LOVE NEW YORK is new, she was just stating that even people who disliked NYers are now wearing signs like these. I hope that you start watching some intelligent television so that you may understand things like this.

It is nice to know that people around the world can put aside any negative feelings they have towards nyc and their constituents, but our own neighbor can't get off her high horse to do the same.

I LOVE NEW YORK

[Lisa F]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
I do NOT LIKE NYC or the little boroughs, people are rude, rude, rude. The attitude is horay for me and the he** with you.

As someone who was born and raised in New York (one of the "little boroughs" actually, Brooklyn) I am deeply offended (and a little surprised) by your comments. It's fine to not like NYC, but to attack all of the people who live in NYC because you don't like it there is incomprehensible.

And....only an NYer would call someone ignorant without knowing them. The jokes about Nyers are not entirely unfounded, you know. And, there are lots of them.

And what do you call someone who writes off 8,000,000+ people based on the knowledge of a few? A CT resident? Do you realize how stupid it sounds to characterize the rest of the people who live in a certain area by the words or actions of one (or a few) of the people who just happen to live in the same area?

Just because there are jokes about something, doesn't mean it's a good generalization to make. All Polish people are not stupid because of their ethnicity, all blondes aren't stupid because of their hair color and residents of NYC (and the "little boroughs") are not all rude because of where they live. I'm of polish descent, I'm blonde and I'm from NYC. If I base my world view on what I learn from jokes, I might as well just give up on life because I'll never be anything but stupid and rude.

By the way, to respond to the original thread, I can't believe that people who want to sleep late on their last day of vacation are called petty for it. Often on our last day of vacation we party until we can't party anymore and come crawling back to bed sometime after 2am. We usually pack the day before except for a few things we need to get dressed the next morning. If I want to sleep until 10:30 (a luxury I only have on vacation since I generally work 7 days a week when I'm NOT on vacation) and take a quick shower, throw on some clothes and have bell services pick up my luggage, that's what I'll do and I would be really annoyed if I got a phone call 6 hours after I got to bed (I live on 6 hours or less of sleep on a regular basis, I don't need that on vacation).

I don't understand how someone can think this kind of behavior is ok? It's like being in a restaurant and wanting to enjoy coffee and dessert after dinner and having the server come by and ask if you would mind taking your coffee and dessert to go so that they can turn over the table more quickly for another guest. Would you think it petty if your disney server handed you your $8 dessert in a styrofoam box and your coffee in a styrofoam cup with your check as they ushered you out the door after you just spent $100 for two on a nice dinner?

That's how DVC members who feel "rushed" out of their rooms the morning after checkout must feel. I just spent $10,000 + and i'm being asked to hit the road as fast as possible? It's not petty to be annoyed, but it IS petty to rush people out at the end of their stay.

Lisa

[kylie]

Lets not overreact. We all like to get into our rooms early, the staff are just trying to get a head start and facilitate this. I am sure that not everyone rings housekeeping to let them know that they are checking out and the room is free(I do :) ). Pherhaps an early call is out of order, but lets keep a phone call in perspective.

[Granny]

nylover....if you look at most of the threads on this board, you will find them to be extremely helpful and informative. This particular thread has turned ugly and should probably be halted.

If you are looking for DVC information with the thought of joining, you will not find a better source for it on the internet, IMHO. The responders here are knowledgeable and passionate. They are not unbiased, but provide many facts in addition to opinions.

I had promised myself not to come back to this thread, but I tend to try to keep up with everything, even if I don't care for what is being said.

Welcome to the DIS board and feel free to start threads, ask questions or voice opinions....please let's all just keep the opinions to DVC and not to our fellow citizens!

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

I had started this thread to point a problem that has persisted on my visits to OKW for some time now. It seems that things have taken a different course from the original subject. I have asked the webmaster to stop the comments on this because it does not seem to be productive anymore.
My purpose was to see if others were having this problem and to get some comments on what could be done. I can see now that the only type of reaction I can get on this board is to be called names and basicaly told that I imagined the whole thing. My only recourse is to stop reading this board and to stop supporting the sponsers of this board. I don't treat people like this and don't expect to be treated like this.

[Figaro30]

So sorry this happened Dennis.....if it's any consolation I do agree with your issue being a problem and plan on doing something about it so it does not continue to happen.

Very sorry again that your thread turned into something so ugly. I truly apologize.

[MaryAnnDVC]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
I do NOT LIKE NYC or the little boroughs, people are rude, rude, rude. The attitude is horay for me and the he** with you. I have been there, I have done that and I do speak from experience. So, resent what I believe to be a fact from my experience all you want.What ignorant comments, and disgusting too in light of the attacks. But...not unexpected. :rolleyes: I too have spent much time in NYC over the last 40 years, and my sister has lived there for 30. We've had wonderful experiences...but then again, maybe it's what you make of it; sometimes you need to look within yourself to find where the problem lies.

As far as the phone calls...haven't actually stayed at DVC yet...first trip coming up; we will be checking out by 10 AM, and most likely will be up very early to get everything together. But I agree that under other circumstances, this could be a big problem. If I had to drive on check out day, getting a good night's sleep would be crucial. I would make every effort the night before to be ready to go to take advantage of being able to sleep in. ANY hang up phone call under ANY circumstances...at home or on vacation...is rude and annoying; when it's due to what their apparently doing...trying to get you out ASAP when you have until 11 AM...it would infuriate me.

I would think that most people have a pretty good idea at check-in about what time they plan to check out. I think that asking at check-in is a starting point to solving the problem.

[Chuck S]

I would think that most people have a pretty good idea at check-in about what time they plan to check out. I think that asking at check-in is a starting point to solving the problem.

An excellent idea! If housekeeping had this info, listed on a chart or something for check-out days, the calls could probably be avoided, or they could call at your estimated time (plus maybe 15 minutes) to see if you had, indeed, left 'on time'.

[CarolAnnC]

Ok, there has been plenty of opportunity on this thread for everyone to voice their opinions on phone calls from housekeeping. The thread has wandered away from the original topic and now includes insults, arguments and attacks. Therefore, it is being closed here on the DVC Board. Please feel free to re-introduce the topic on our Debate Board if you would like to engage in a lively debate on this subject or any of the other subjects included in this thread. Thanks to all for understanding and cooperation! :)